Glen Check Socks FO

Pattern: Country Socks by Nancy Bush (Cuff pattern only)

Yarn: 2 Balls Patons North America Kroy Socks 4 Ply

Colour: Glen Check

Needles: 3mm dpn

Start: June 28 Finish: September 18, 2014

A very basic 74 stitch ribbed sock for My Beloved, the best part of which is the yarn.

Its such a great value, the end product from it feels sturdy and yet also very luxe! The 25% nylon content is utterly undetectable in the big cushy ribs but will make these a good weekend sock for years to come.

This is the 7th pair of socks I've knit for him and the first time I've successfully tackled the issue of fit at his ankle and over his very high instep.

My first go at the problem this time yielded the weird result pictured above. It fit but by the time I'd decreased away the gusset made with a long heel flap to match his high instep. the top of the sock wrapped around under the ball of his foot.

So next I worked a shorter-than-normal heel flap after a 1" decrease below the calf leaving 68 sts for the second heel and the remainder of the sock down to the toe. (The decreases can be seen below but he's got the socks on akimbo - the decrease really is at the centre of the heel!)

So the decreases and shorter heel worked to give us a good result although I may add just a few more rows to the heel on the next pair to guard against wear.

And there's enough yarn to work another pair. Of course he'd happily have another just the same. Of course there's be little amusement in that for me!

I'm thinking 1x1 ribbed cuff, then stockinette with a little cable running down the outside of each leg and splitting at the heel. I'd like to see how the "Glen Check" yarn looks in stocking stitch. I'll use the same stitch count and look forward to only working 2 socks rather than almost three in order to yield a pair! 

Pretty Perfect Weekend

...No bugs and dark early enough to be enjoying the fire and marshmallows way before 10:00 p.m.! You can't do that in July!

...On the dock without an umbrella as the warm sun is balanced by a temperate September breeze. 'Can't do that in July either!

(What a lucky girl! Her Dad is happy to haul out a couple of pieces of furniture after all had been stowed away for the winter over our last frigid visit two weeks ago!)

...Even the drive home at the end of it all was beautiful!

On top of all this, I had the fortitude to work exclusively on a big swatch for Hauser. (The tubular cast on, which took a few tries doubled my automatic swatching cast on from 40 stitches to 80. (Ooops!)

I'm using remnant Tinder yarn for this swatch - also Galway Heather - like the red yarn in which I plan to knit the sweater. I've read how two colourways of the same yarn can yield slightly different gauges - Maybe I'll see if that's in fact the case here!

I stuck with the 80 stitches, 'worked out the novel cable construction of the pattern and have a good sized piece of double moss stitch to measure for gauge. I'm close to both row and stitch gauge now, this morning I'll wet block it and find out for sure.

Thanks for dropping by today!

"Tinder" by Jared Flood FO

Pattern: "Tinder" by Jared Flood

Source: BT Fall 11 Look Book

Yarn: Diamond Galway Heather Worsted

Colour: Blue Grey

Source: Passionknit Toronto

Needles: 4.5mm, 5.5mm

Start: May 23 Finish: July13, 2014

Modifications: Shortened Sleeves by 2"

This sweater sprang from a desire to have something warm to wear at the cottage over the next 30 years or so. I wanted classic, comfortable and cozy and hoped to knit it in crisp white wool.

"White" wool yarns, not surprisingly, tend to have a creamy appearance that I feared would read as "yellowed" so I abandoned the white idea, settling instead on this grey-blue Galway Worsted. Its heathered with white that gave me the summer-time feel I was looking for.

As a nice surprise, in addition, the faded denim colour will also work well year round. (Maybe Tinder won't live at the cottage over the winter after all!)

Tinder was an easy, straightforward knit. Mine worked up with 3 weeks of pleasant, error-free stitching on its 5 separate pieces. I wet blocked each to size then post assembly, steam blocked the knit-on button bands and collar. I like the control knitting separate elements gives me and the fact the pieces stay a nice manageable size. The reinforcing qualities of seams on this long garment will also guard against stretching. (I hope!!!)

I love the reverse stocking stitch sleeves and the detail along the selvages. (I must remember to block these along the sleeve/shoulder join more carefully to better show them off!)

The finished fabric is quite light and drapes beautifully.

I worked the sleeve decreases every 8 rows rather than every 10 to shorten the sleeves 2" avoiding the "knuckle-length" look of the pattern while maintaining the nice deep cuffs.

'Love the A line shaping. Love the fit. The length is cozy but I don't feel swamped in sweater.

I chose convex Mother of Pearl buttons shaded with the navy, warm cream and white of the shells from which they came. A fitting nod to the water on which I plan to wear this sweater a lot and a perfect compliment to the yarn.

Their soft sheen and round shape counter the right angles of the waffle stitch pattern in a way that pleases me immensely.

I'm very happy with the net impression. It feels great, looks laid back and works with everything from jeans to khaki shorts to leggings and white pants.

On the day we went out to take these FO pics, it even matched the weather!

 Thank you for dropping by. Thanks Jared for a wonderful design and pattern!

"Maplewood" Mittens FO by Rebecca Blair

Pattern: "Maplewood Mittens" by Rebecca Blair

Source: Doilies are Stylish

Yarn: Remnant Brown Sheep Nature Spun Worsted

Colour: Regal Purple

Source: Romni Wools Toronto

Needles: 4mm dpn

Start: January 22 Finish: June 28, 2014

Modifications: None

In my flurry of mitten making early in the new year I finished one of these mitts and had the second worked past the cuff when I set the project aside to work on my Olympic Knitting Project. In so doing I forgot about this project entirely.

Months later, seeing the pattern in my favourites as if for the first time, I went digging around for the yarn, eager to cast on. Naturally the yarn was no where to be found - among the yarn.! Eventually, while getting current projects ready to go to the cottage, I found the project bag containing these and was shocked to discover a completed cuff on the dpn's. Digging deeper in the bag I became incredulous at finding the first finished mitten rolled up at the bottom.

So I guess its fair to characterize these as an easy, quick (but not very memorable) knit!

I like purple as a pop of colour in winter with black, grey, and surprisingly (to me) I like it very much with brown to which it gives a bit of richness in the dark, cold, colourless months.

The cast on for these was fun - reminiscent of a picot edge with the dark purple toning down the sweetness factor for a more modern, less fussy look better suited to my taste.

On 4mm needles and given the way the chevron detail on the back is structured these will need a second layer underneath for winter wear outside but they'll be okay on their own in the car and be fine in early fall and spring.

A nice little pattern which the 20 something crowd around here unanimously found to be "weird" given the points at the fingertips. On the hand though, they seem much less extreme to me and the gusset thumb of course makes for very comfortable fit.

Another miraculously free pattern generously donated to the knitting community. Aren't knitters fabulous?! Thanks so much Ms. Blair!

Tomorrow, another FO from yesterday's pile!

Something I need to Fix

'Haven't posted about any of these FO's mostly for want of modeled shots but truth be told I haven't written the posts either.

But now that Autumn is officially upon us the use of these pieces will become more relevant every day while these languish in a kind of suspended animation where I don't want to put them away or wear them. It feels like until they're posted they aren't really "finished" somehow.

Like I said,that's something I need to fix!

Poodle Project

You know how it all starts - you have some time to kill and an idea for a project.

If you're a poodle and your knitter has had the audacity to go get her hair cut and maybe do a bit of yarn shopping while she's out and you are left all alone you wonder how to pass the time and come up with a great idea - How about chewing off a small benign bump from your toe!


As with many projects though the thing takes on a life of its own and it turns out the mess you make necessitates a trip to the vet and sedation the next day to repair the damage to toe and/complete the removal now underway.

Inc. 3 sts.

"At the same time" (Oh dear, we all know how tricky "at the same time" can be!) another wee bump on the flank gets removed.

Inc. 3 sts for a total of 6 sts.

But knitting friends we all know how frustrating it is to have stitches you just aren't happy with...how they nag at you until you rip them out to do over...

In the case of this "project" despite the presence of "Bitter Yuck" generously sprayed around the wound on the flank to discourage licking, over three nights while your knitter sleeps, remove flank stitches. 

3 sts decreased. 3 sts remaining.

Monday, back to the vet, 3 stitches to re-close flank wound. Oral antibiotics started. New "extra long" cone substituted for obviously inadequate "large" cone. We all know sometimes it takes a few tries to get the right gauge for the project!

 Inc. 3 sts for a total of 6 sts.

Tuesday, I had to go out without him for one hour. (You can guess where this is heading.)

While alone (again for second time in a week!) remove sock covering foot wound, held in place with vet wrap by stepping on toe of the sock with other foot while lifting the one with the stitches to step out of sock. Then using new extra long cone as a kind of scraping tool apply downward pressure on the cone against foot until nose and tongue reach wound to remove stitches.

3 sts decreased. 3 sts remaining.

Hudson kindly demonstrated his technique for me, that's how I know what he did. Just like a knitter - always happy to help show someone else how they accomplished something tricky!

Back to the vet's.

To recap the varying stitch count then...

3+3=6 -3=3+3=6-3=3

and that's where we are now with the addition of vet-recommended surgical tape to "hitch" sock to fur way up on leg preventing "step on" removal - kind of like putting underarm stitches on strings.

Finally put your feet up and have a good sleep. She might go out again for a bit today and you want to be all rested up and ready in case you get another bright idea!

This Morning...

...After a cozy weekend up north beside the fire with my knitting I'm back in the city taking stock...

I've read through the pattern for Hawser and tried out a new-to-me Tubular Cast on I'd seen on You Tube by Eunny Jang. I like the resulting less-fussy-to execute, gorgeous tubular edge that resulted. I'm ready for swatching!

'Resolved the Glen Checked Socks issues to suit My Beloved's feet. I'll close up those toes today with my favourite inside out three needle bind off closure. With three balls remaining in what seems the perfect colourway for a casual men's sock I may just indulge in planning a second pair right away.

Devlan, that I'm hoping to sneak out of my remnant Shepherd/Shearer yarn, is knitted bottom up in the round. Currently I'm at the bottom of the sweater where there's nigh on 300 stitches per round to generate the 8 1/2 inches of positive ease around the hips. I'm a few decreases/dozens of rounds south of dividing at the underarms. These long mindless rounds with that gorgeous creamy, wool yarn are the kind of soothing, warm, delightful work that non-knitters could never understand or imagine. ( I know you can though!)

The Double Knitted Dog Bed project I started in the spring will require four more skeins of Briggs and Little "Atlantic" that have yet to come in at Romni but I've one more ball to work before I'm completely out of yarn. In contrast to the Devlan experience, this piece is a workout. The big scale of both needles and yarn means moving my arms not just fingers and/or hands for every throw and the double knitting requires paying attention to avoid a pesky "joining" of the front and back. (Its invisible when it happens and for this project is of no consequence - its the principal of the thing for the sides to be separate and independent of each other. (Again. non knitters would never "get" that fine point on it - in fact they'd ask"why make a dog bed when you can so easily buy one?"

There are, of course, other projects that shall remain "ignored" for the moment. This morning I'm finding these and these alone entertaining to think about and arrange project baskets/bags for following their arrival back here city-side.

I hope you find your knitting "entertaining" today too!

Kismet!

I returned from the cottage at summer's end anticipating what Jared and the gang at Brooklyn Tweed might have on offer this fall, confident they'd have just the thing to add to my cold-season wardrobe/autumn season needles.

I'd been checking each day this month (possible more than once a day) but Tuesday morning, moments before setting off for a hair cut (next door to Romni Wools!) The Autumn 2014 BT Look Book came out and right there, the first pattern, was the sweater I need and want in just the colour for me too!

Freshly shorn, I spent a very few minutes scanning the wall of worsted at the back of the store for a good match to the BT colourway "Long Johns". There seemed no red that was just right. Then, as I was about to give up I decided to shift a small pile of unopened, yet to be shelved pile of yarn leaning on the worsted wall to find the right colour in my favourite Galway Heather. But there were only 4 balls left and I needed 9! Arghhhhhh!

But wait, the sales girl said there was more, she grabbed a ladder and plucked the last 5 balls from the back of the shelf up near the ceiling.

The pattern, the yarn, the timing. This project was meant to be!

Kismet indeed!

Deco The Stubborn Sweater

I posted about this knit last month with the ironic and optimistic title "Getting Deco Done"

I reported I was down to affixing the button band facings but as with almost every aspect of Deco's creation, getting this element right has taken twice as long, required twice the effort as it should have.

It's like it refuses to allow itself to be completed on the first run at any part of it.

Now the length of the buttons bands seems endlessly fluid as I try to get them the same length with the gros grain ribbon facings attached.

I've also visited several stores this summer in search of the clear plastic snaps that close this cardi rather than button holes. They are sold out wherever I might go.

I'm wondering whether to put any emphasis on continuing the search though because there's active reticence on the part of this cardi to close.

I've gone on about before, about seeking the "neat boxy" fit illustrated in the pattern but despite perfect gauge, the near finished knitted piece (the first time I knit it) yielded 4" of negative ease and looked like something a child might wear.

So the second run I went for 4" of positive ease and still will only have something that will likely be skin tight when/if buttoned up.

Being the boss of my knitting as EZ recommends, I guess, in the case of Deco, has limited bounds. Deco is stubborn about what it will and will not be. The only thing left to this knitter, I'm realizing, is to see that at least, better late than never, it will be "done"!

Behaving

My resolve to eat and knit responsibly yesterday held firm.

Running errands over the 3:00 o'clockish time I'd usually stray toward forbidden snacks and only bringing my current sock project down to the city from the cottage so I had no choice but to work on them this week was key.

Sock one, 'expected the ribbed fabric/going down a needle size would give a nice fit 'round the ankle, without decreases below the calf.

Mistake.

(And the thing just looks plain weird too!)

Sock two - 4 stitch decrease and shorter heel flap for less gusset, more ribbing/more (hopefully enough) "grip" over the instep.

Snore.

I do love the Paton's yarn - both the feel and colour and the beefy-for-socks 3mm needles make things fairly sail along but honestly,

Snore.

But snoring while behaving!

Go Me! ;)

And now September

Everyone says it was a weird summer, and we certainly found it to be just that. In our case especially so due to the absence of Number One Son from the cottage.

Rather than think of the things that the summer wasn't though, I focused on what it could be given the novel circumstances.

For example, as many Knitters have commented, the cooler weather was good for knitting and I found it to be just that. Instead of working on things in an orderly fashion that might lead to something - anything, getting finished, I enjoyed a randomized "what do I feel like working on" approach.

I also indulged in more than a bit of "what do I feel like eating".  So along with the summer bedding and volumes of towels to launder, last night I also "brought home" a bunch of weight to lose. (This was clearly illustrated over the weekend as Darling Daughter helped me with FO shots of Tinder. I won't post the more telling images she captured but I'll print off a copy for posting on the fridge this morning.

And so September - that "getting back into a routine" time drummed into us in the opening decades of our lives. As my son takes a break from it, his mother will embrace it, as I haven't been able to do since the year he was born and Darling Daughter started school because this year I can put the effort into my own "routine".

'Time to shrink that WIP list and while I'm at it, my waistline! 'Keep my hands on the needles instead of the goodies and I should accomplish both tasks.

Onward!